System and method for work vehicle operator identification

Abstract

An operator identification control system and method are disclosed for a work vehicle having a cab, a work tool and a source of propulsion. The operator identification control system includes a source associated with the operator that actively transmits an operator identification to identify the operator. The operator identification control system also includes at least one controller onboard the work vehicle that receives and processes the operator identification to determine whether the operator is associated with the work vehicle, and based on the determination, enables an operation of the work tool and/or a motion of the work vehicle by the operator.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An operator identification control system for a work vehicle, comprising:
 a beacon onboard the work vehicle providing one-way transmission to continuously broadcast a beacon signal containing a machine identification; 
 an operator device having a communication component providing two-way communication and receiving the machine identification of the beacon signal, the operator device having a controller that receives and processes the received machine identification to determine an operator identification that identifies an operator, the device communication component transmitting a device signal containing the operator identification; 
 a vehicle communication component onboard the work vehicle receiving the operator identification of the device signal from the communication component of the operator device; and 
 a vehicle controller onboard the work vehicle enabling an operation of the work vehicle by the operator when the operator identification is associated with the work vehicle; 
 wherein the vehicle controller disables the operation of the work vehicle by the operator when the beacon signal is no longer received by the operator device. 
 
     
     
       2. The operator identification control system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle controller processes the operator identification to determine whether the operator is associated with the work vehicle. 
     
     
       3. The operator identification control system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle controller determines usage data indicating a usage of the work vehicle by the operator; and
 wherein the vehicle communication component transmits the usage data to a system remote from the work vehicle and the operator device. 
 
     
     
       4. The operator identification control system of  claim 1 , wherein the operator device controller generates a notification when the beacon signal is no longer received;
 wherein the operator device communication component transmits a notification signal containing the notification; 
 wherein the vehicle communication component receives the notification of the notification signal; and 
 wherein the vehicle controller processes the notification to disable the operation of the work vehicle by the operator. 
 
     
     
       5. The operator identification control system of  claim 1 , wherein the beacon has a Bluetooth® transmitter that actively transmits the beacon signal containing the machine identification over a Bluetooth® communication protocol. 
     
     
       6. The operator identification control system of  claim 5 , wherein the operator device communication component includes a Bluetooth® receiver that receives the beacon signal and a wireless transmitter that communicates the device signal over a wireless communication protocol to the vehicle communication component. 
     
     
       7. The operator identification control system of  claim 1 , wherein the operator device comprises a portable electronic device. 
     
     
       8. An operator identification control method for a work vehicle, the method comprising:
 broadcasting continuously, by a beacon onboard the work vehicle, a beacon signal containing a machine identification; 
 receiving, by a communication component of an operator device, the machine identification of the beacon signal; 
 processing, by a controller of the operator device, the machine identification to determine an operator identification that identifies an operator; 
 transmitting, by the operator device communication component, a device signal containing the operator identification; 
 receiving, by a vehicle communication component onboard the work vehicle, the operator identification of the device signal from the communication component of the operator device; 
 enabling, by a vehicle controller onboard the work vehicle, an operation of the work vehicle by the operator when the operator identification is associated with the work vehicle; and 
 disabling, by the vehicle controller, the operation of the work vehicle by the operator when the beacon signal is no longer received by the operator device. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , further including:
 processing, by the vehicle controller, the operator identification to determine whether the operator is associated with the work vehicle. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , further including:
 determining, by the vehicle controller, usage data indicating a usage of the work vehicle by the operator; and 
 transmitting, by the vehicle communication component, the usage data to a system remote from the work vehicle and the operator device. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the disabling the operation of the work vehicle by the operator includes:
 generating, by the operator device controller, a notification when the beacon signal is no longer received; 
 transmitting, by the operator device communication component, a notification signal containing the notification; 
 receiving, by the vehicle communication component, the notification of the notification signal; and 
 processing, by the vehicle controller, the notification to disable the operation of the work vehicle by the operator. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the beacon has a Bluetooth® transmitter that actively transmits the beacon signal containing the machine identification over a Bluetooth® communication protocol. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the operator device communication component includes a Bluetooth® receiver that receives the beacon signal and a wireless transmitter that communicates the device signal over a wireless communication protocol to the vehicle communication component. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the operator device comprises a portable electronic device.